Homework/In-Class Assignments for U

Homework/In-Class Assignments for U.S. Government Class

UNIT I GOVERNMENT ASSIGNMENTS

Semester II 2012

The first unit of study will focus on the reasons for a government, different forms of government, and the development of the Constitution of the United States. We will examine some of the greatest philosophers who have developed theories on the “best” form of government and analyze the strengths and weaknesses inherent within each system. We will then look at the creation of our Constitution and an examination of the document and its democratic components. An examination of how federalism impacts both the national and state levels will follow. Finally, we will briefly analyze our national budget in the context of our economic situation..

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Table of Contents

Join Democracy Matters

DATE

IN-CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

MON. 1/9

Course Rules/Requirements* (#1)
Get Textbooks
ESLRs (#2)
Go Over Binder Information Sheet (#4)
Start Identifying Your Beliefs (#5)

Read Course Rules/Requirements* (#1)- get parents to sign (due Mon.)
Finish Identifying Your Beliefs (#5) if you didn’t finish in class
Review US Government Standards in the front of your binder(#3)
Prepare Binder (use Binder Information Sheet (#4) There will be a binder check starting Thu.
Turn in Golden Rods by Thu.
Print Unit I and place in back of Unit 1 Divider (it’s this page) (#8)

TUE./WED 1/10-1/11

Do and Review Questionnaire (#6)
Review Identifying Your Beliefs (#5)
Class Activity ***
Explain Philosopher Island (#9) (15minutes)
Start Why Govt.? (#11) (15 minutes)

Read Course Rules/Requirements* (#1)- get parents to sign (due Tue. 1/16)

Read Newsweek Article (#7) by next week

If you want to review material from the lecture- Review Chpt. 1 sect. 1
Print the specific Philosopher Information Sheet (#10) that you signed up for in class You might need to hit “ctrl”+ the link to open it.

Complete the questions in

the reading and also

complete your

philosopher’s section on

the Philosopher Matrix

(#12) (print this sheet out)

Read Chpt 2 Sect. 1
Turn in Golden Rods by Thu.
Binder Check Thu.

THU./FRI. 1/12-1/13

· Why Govt.? (#11)2 5minutes

· Philosopher Island (#9) (~55 minutes)

· Complete Philosopher Matrix (#12)

Skim Chpt 2 Sect. 2; and finish READING the rest of Chpt.2 by Tue.

Do Baron de Montesquieu W/S (#13)
Be sure to turn in signed Rules/Requirements sheet Mon.(#1)

MON.

1/16

NO SCHOOL MLK DAY

See Above

TUE./WED 1/17-1/18

· Finish Philosopher Island (#9) 30 minutes

· Collect Rules/Requirements (#1) signature

· Finish Why Gov’t (#11)

· Start Lecture Concepts of Democracy/ Aspects of the Constitution (#14) up to Ratifying the Constitution (25 minutes)

· Read: A Guide to the Federal Budget- “A Guide to the Federal Budget Deficit and National Debt” – be prepared to respond in class to the “For Discussion and Writing” and “Questions for Individual Response and Discussion” sections. (#15)

· Notice Date Change for Unit I Test

THU./FRI. 1/19-1/20

· Concepts of Democracy/ Aspects of the Constitution (#14) (20 minutes)

· Class Discussion on A Guide to the “Federal Budget Deficit and National Debt” article.

· Class Discussion w/Questions (#17)

· Print and Do Wksht: Federalist Papers W/S (#18) AND Print out and read Federalist/Anti-Federalist Debate intro (#19)

· Print and bring Federalism Lecture (#20)

· Read Chpt 3 sect. 2 & sect. 3 ; also review “Checks and Balances Graph”pg. 68 and pg. 70 “Federalism” section (read by Thu.)

MON. 1/23

· Finish Concepts of Democracy/ Aspects of the Constitution (#14)

· Founding Fathers Video (#16)

· Review Chpt 4 sect 1 & 2 by Thu.

· State of the Union Address is tomorrow (Tue.) evening at @6pm.

· Here’s the UNIT I STUDYGUIDE to help study for UNIT 1 TEST (#22) for THU. If you complete (optional) you may earn X-tra credit

TUE./WED. 1/24-1/25

· Finish Founding Fathers Video (#16) (20 minutes)

· Federalism Lecture (#20)

· Federalism W/S (#21)

· Unit I Test Review

· State of the Union Address is tonight @6pm.

· Here’s the UNIT I STUDYGUIDE to help study for UNIT 1 TEST (#22) for THU. If you complete (optional) you may earn X-tra credit

· Here is a link to School House Rock’s Preamble tune. Fun to sing! J

THU./FRI.

· Review for Unit I Test

· UNIT I TEST

· Video: Congressional Insider Trading (1^st and 4^th periods)

· Read Chpt. 5 Sect. 1

· For fun check out- Take a look at the World’s 10 Worst Dictators (this came out a few years ago so the #1 dictator doesn’t apply anymore)

· GO TO UNIT II SCHEDULE